CA2738971A1 - Automated pool-deck lid lift system for below deck pool cover housing troughs - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for sequentially supporting, opening and closing a pool-deck lid covering below-deck troughs housing coordinated with the operation of powered pool cover systems housed in the troughs. In certain embodiments the system com-prises in combination: a front, longitudinal seating structure, an upwardly movably, cantilever bracket structure, hydraulic/pneumatic means, and a hydraulic/pneumatic actuation control means.

Description

Second Replacement - Page 1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Related Applications:
This Application claims all benefits applicable under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/120,822 filed on behalf of the Applicant on 08-Dec-200g entitled "AUTOMATED BINGED LID FOR POOL

COVER RECESS", and incorporates U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.
61/120,822 in its entirety hercin by reference.

Field of the Invention:
The invention relates generally to automatic swimming pool cover systems, and, in particular to a system for sequentially supporting, opening and closing a pool-deck lid covering below-deck troughs housing with the operation of powered pool cover systems.
Description of the Prior Art:

Swimming pools integrated with pool cover systems extending and retracting covers across the pool surface are safer, energy efficient, less expensive and easier to maintain. Pool covers also prevent heat and water loss through evaporation. It is also desirable to curtail other water losses from pools where water is scarce.

Water splashing over into below-deck troughs housing pool cover systems is primary source water loss from so equipped swimming pools. In particular, the bond beam topping the pool wall between the pool and trough housing are necessarily lower than the surrounding pool deck to allow retraction and extension of pool covers anchored by pool cover tracks secured in or along adjacent pool side walls. [See For example U.S. Patent Nos. 5,913,613, Ragsdale; 6,446,276, Mathis; 6,496,990, Last; & 6,769,141, Epple et al.]

Below-deck troughs housing pool cover systems adjacent a sidewall of a swimming pool also present structural and design problems affecting access to the pool.
In particular the housing troughs require pool deck lid structures that integrate with the AMENDED SHEET - IPEA/US

Second Replacement - Page 4 longitudinal I-beam, hydraulically raised or jacked-up, adjacent the wall between the trough and the pool. In Jeffery, the pool cover is clamped between the flat extending cantilevered planiform poolside ends of the deck-lid structure and the top surface of the longitudinal beam structure when it is hydraulically raised to the support position. Jeffery et a! also proposes water saving membrane secured between the top of the upwardly translating beam and the wall top between the housing trough and pool for containing water pool, i.e., to prevent pool water from splashing into the housing trough when the cover is fully retracted, wound up in the housing trough. In Jeffery, the cantilever structures are joined with the surrounding deck of the pool.

The Jeffery solution presents more problems than it solves. First the beam raised by the hydraulic jacks must squarely engage simultaneously across the entire length of the poolside plnniform structures cantilevered over the housing trough to preclude risk of fracture of the overlying deck. Also, objects/debris on top of the pool cover trapped in the entry slot to the trough housing between the rising support beam and one or more of the cantilevered structures precludes square engagement again creating a risk of fracture of the overlying deck and coping elements above the trapped debris. Next, the cantilevered structure and the supported pool deck also must be sufficiently rigid to support the pool deck without the raised beam, yet have sufficient flexibility and strength to allow for loading of the rising beam at its end points without risk of fracturing the overlying pool deck at the junctures of the pool deck and coping elements cantilevered over the pool cover housing. Third, the scheme does not fail safe, i.e., static support under the structures cantilevered over the trough housing fails upon loss of hydraulic support in one or more of the supporting jacks.

Finally, Applicant in his U.S. Patent Nos. 6,938.415 issued 09/06/2005 and 7,204,291 issued 04/17/2007 respectively describes hydraulic/pneumatic actuation AMENDED SHEET - IPEA/US

Second Replacement - Page 7 exemplary hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuation control schemes for synchronizing raising and closing the deck-lid lift system with operation of hydraulically actuated pool cover systems.

Figure 2 is a sketch presenting a cross sectional view of the invented hinged, deck-lid lift system, Figure 3 is a sketch presenting a cross section view of the hydraulic actuator and an associated adjustment mechanism that pivots or tilts the cantilever bracket structure upward lifting the seated, front, (poolside) longitudinal seating structure off of the lowered bond beam structure of the adjacent pool sidewall sufficiently to allow extension and retraction travel of pool cover system elements.

Figures 4a, 4b, 5a & Sb, are sketches illustrating different features of the modular deck-lid top plates supported between pairs of the extending support arms of the cantilever bracket structure and the structural features of the front, poolside, longitudinal seating structure fastened to the distal ends of the extending support arms.

Figure Sc is an image depicting the underside of the modular deck-lid top plates.
Figure 6 is a perspective sketch illustrating mechanical coupling between the longitudinal actuator beam and extending actuator arms of the cantilever bracket structure.

Figure 7 is a variation of Fig 2 with emphasis on integrating details of the top structure of the adjacent pool wall with the structure of the leading edge beam of the pool cover system when the cover is retracted.

Figure 7(a) illustrates a stop block fastened to the traveling leading edge beam of the pool cover system for positively stopping pool cover retraction upon contact against the base section of the bond beam of the adjacent pool wall between the pool and housing trough.

AMENDED SHEET - IPEA /US

Second Repacement - Page 9 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

For context, and a clearer understanding of the features of Applicant's AUTOMATED
POOL-DECK LID LIFT SYSTEM FOR BELOW DECK POOL COVER HOUSING TROUGHS, refer to Applicant's US Patent No. 4,939,798 issued Jul 10, 1990 describing a LEADING
EDGE

AND TRACK SLIDER SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMATIC SWIMMING POOL COVER; U.S. Patent Nos. 5,184357 & 5,327590 respectively issued Feb. 2, 1993 and July 12, 1994 describing AUTOMATIC SWIMMING POOL COVERS WITH DUAL HYDRAULIC DRIVE SYSTEMS; U.S.
Patent No. 6,496,990, issued Dec. 24, 2002 describing an EXTRUDED TRACK
CONSTRUCT
COMPONENT SYSTEM FOR SWIMMING POOL COVER SYSTEMS; U.S. Patent No. 6,938,415, issued Sep. 6, 2005 describing an HYDRAULIC/ PNEUMATIC APPARATUS; U.S. Patent No.
6,827,120, issued Dec. 7, 2004 describing an AUTOMATIC POOL COVER SYSTEM UsiNG
BUOYANT SLAT POOL COVERS; U.S. Patent No. 7,155, 910 issued Jan. 2, 2007 describing a DUAL, COUPLED CHECK VALVE FOR DIRECT, REVERSIBLE POWER SOURCES FOR
HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS, and U.S. Patent No. 7,204,291 issued Apr. 17 2007 describing a MODULAR LID AND ACTUATOR FOR UNDERWATER POOL COVER DRUM ENCLOSURE, Also see Applicant's published U.S. Patent Applications Nos. US2004/01443896 describing a TRAVELING COVER BENCH SYSTEM WITH HYDRAULIC FLUID ACTUATOR (abandoned), and US2008/0178587 describing an ANTI-CAVITATION MANIFOLD FOR DRIVE COUPLED, DUAL MOTOR, REVERSIBLE HYDRAULIC DRIVE WINDING AND UNWINDING SYSTEMS. Each of the above cited patents and publications directly relate to the patentability of Applicant's AUTOMATED POOL-DECK LID LIFT SYSTEM FOR BELOW DECK POOL COVER
HOUSING TROUGHS described and claimed below. Accordingly each of the patents and publications cited above are incorporated herein as though fully set forth at length at this point.

AMENDED SHEET - IPEAIUS

Second Replacement - Page 15 provides rigid static support bridging between the common below-deck end wall 24 and back wall 32 the housing trough 11.
Looking at Figures 2 and 6, the cantilever bracket structure 31 is tilted upward by one or more single action, short thrust, hydraulic actuator cylinders 81, secured to, and resting on the back wall 32 of the trough housing 11 located such that the piston heads 82 extending from the hydraulic actuators 81 to engage adjustment assemblies 83 positioned on, and integral with the actuator box beam 36 located between one or more pairs of the vertical actuator arms 34.
In more detail, each adjustment assembly 83 includes a threaded adjustment rod or bolt 84 with a head 86 axially aligned with the head 82 of the piston 85 of a particular single action, short thrust, hydraulic actuator cylinder 81. The threaded adjustment rod/bolts 84 extend via an adjustment port 87 drilled through wall side of the box beam 36 helically screwing through a nut 87 welded on the outside wall surface of the beam 36 opposite the hydraulic actuators 81. The adjustment port ideally should have a diameter greater than both the diameter of rod/bolt head 86 and piston head 82 of the hydraulic actuator cylinder 81 to increase the range of possible adjustment. Lock nuts are screwed onto the emerging shanks of the adjustment rod/bolts 84 for setting the adjustment for each particular single action, short thrust, hydraulic actuator cylinders 81.
Equivalently, the adjustment assembly 83 could comprise a threaded adjustment rod or bolt 84 screwing coaxially into and out of the piston 85 of any particular single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder 81 that engages the opposing face/wall of the actuator box beam 36.
In particular, the object is to only `tilt-and-hold' the pool-deck lid 28 supported by the cantilever bracket structure 31 tilted upward, lifting the depending front seating structure(s) 27 off the receiving top surface 26 of the end wall 24 sufficiently to assure release and, free, unencumbered, extension and retraction travel of the pool cover and any other traveling pool cover elements that may be clamped, sandwiched or held between the front longitudinal seating structure(s) 27 of the resting pool-deck lid 28 and the underlying top surface 26 of the end wall 24. However, remember and appreciate, as with AMENDED SHEET - IPE:VUS

PCTt(JS09/67224 07-07-2010 Second Replacement - Page 22 Figure la schematically illustrates a dual, reversible hydraulic motor system described in Applicant's U.S. Patent Nos. 5,184357, 5,327590 and his pending patent application published at US2008/0178587. The reversible hydraulic motors 12m and 13m respectively power and resist rotation of the cover drum 12 and the cable reel(s) 13 as indicated by lines connecting to the cover drum 12 and cable reel(s) 13. As indicated, the reversible hydraulic motors 12m and 13m and associated anti-cavitation manifold 121 are housed in the housing trough I 1 with the hydraulic actuator cylinders 81 tilting the pool-deck lid 28 covering the housing trough II. The hydraulic power source (a pump) 122, the associated fluid reservoir 123, a momentary electrical control 132, a directional control valve 124, pressure sequencing valves 126 and 127 are each remotely located, not in the housing trough but rather at a power pack location and a control station. Hydraulic lines 128, 129, and 131 respective connect between the remote hydraulic power source 122 and the motors 12m, 13m, powering the cover drum 12 and cable reel(s) and hydraulic actuator cylinders 81 tilting the pool-deck lid 28.

To retract the pool cover 14 from across the pool, a normally open, momentary electrical control switch 132 that activates at either a left or right position in is activated left and held (see arrows at 132) turning on the hydraulic power source (pump) 122, and shifts directional control valve 124 left 122 via electrical lines 134 and 135 connecting between the control station and the power pack locations for simultaneously supplying fluid and pressure to the single acting hydraulic cylinders 81 via hydraulic line 131 for lilting the pool-deck lid 28 up, and to reversible hydraulic motor 12nt via hydraulic line 129 through power sequence valve 126 that blocks flow temporarily until a preset pressure level is reached. Accordingly the actuating pistons 85 of the single acting hydraulic cylinders 81 fully extend, tilting the pool-deck lid 28 upward lifting its depending front seating structure(s) 27 off the receiving lop surface 26 of the pool end AMENDED SHEET - IPEANS

Second Replacement - Page 23 wall 24 sufficiently to assure release and free, unencumbered, retraction travel of the pool cover before reversible hydraulic motor 12m is actuated.

Upon full extension of the actuating pistons 85 of the single acting hydraulic cylinders 81 there is a consequent increase of pressure within the hydraulic system. At the preset pressure, power sequence valve 126 releases allowing fluid flow and pressure to actuate (drive) reversible hydraulic motor 12m for rotating the cover drum 12 winding up the pool cover 14 retracting it and the leading edge beam 17 from across, uncovering the pool.

For extension of the pool cover 14, the momentary electrical control switching 132 is held at the right position turning on the hydraulic power source (pump) 122 and shifts directional control valve 124 left via electrical lines 134 & 135 for simultaneously supplying fluid and pressure to the single acting hydraulic cylinders 81 via hydraulic line 131 again for tilting the pool-deck lid 28 up, and then to reversible hydraulic motor 13m via hydraulic line 130 through power sequence valve 127 that blocks flow temporarily until the preset pressure level is reached, allowing the single acting hydraulic cylinders 81 to first, fully tilt the pool-deck lid 28 back up lifting its depending front seating structure(s) 27 off the receiving top surface 26 of the pool end wall 24 sufficiently to assure release and free, unencumbered, extension travel of the pool cover 14 across the pool 16. Upon full extension of the actuating pistons 85 of the single acting hydraulic cylinders 81 there is again a consequent increase of pressure within hydraulic the hydraulic system. At the preset pressure, power sequence valve 127 releases and fluid flow and pressure for actuating and driving reversible hydraulic motor 13m rotating the cable reel(s) unwinding the pool cover 14 from around the cover drum 12 extending the cover and the leading edge beam 17 back across the pool 16 to, the opposite end wall covering the pool 16.

AMENDED SHEET - IPEA/US

Second Replacement - Page 24 Release of the momentary electrical control switch 132 held at either the left or right position, cuts electrical power to the hydraulic power source (pump) 122 turning it off, and to the directional control valve 124 which returns to its normally center position permitting fluid flow from actuated components of system to the fluid reservoir 123 via hydraulic lines 129, 130 and 131. Accordingly, the fluid in actuated single acting hydraulic cylinders 81 statically resisting the force of gravity and mass (weight) of the tilted pool-deck lid 28 drains to reservoir 123 from the hydraulic cylinders 81 and the actuating pistons 85 sink back into the hydraulic cylinders 81 at a rate determined the flow rates allowed by hydraulic line 131 connecting through the directional control valve 124 to reservoir 133. As the hydraulic fluid exhausts from the hydraulic cylinders 81. the pool-deck lid 28 gradually tilts back to a down position where the front longitudinal seating structures 27 seats on the pool cover 14 and the underlying longitudinal seating block 93 on top of the pool end wall 24. In the down position, the pool-deck lid 28 statically rests solidly on the pool end wall 24 and the hinge pin assemblies anchored on the back wall 32 of the housing trough 11. The pool cover 15, whether at the fully retracted position, or at the fully extended position, or anywhere in between is clamped, sandwiched between seating block 27 on top of the pool end wall 24 and the depending poolside front longitudinal seating structures(s) 27 of the pool-deck lid 28 statically resting solidly on that end wall 24, Normally open, momentary, control switching systems, whether electrical, hydraulic pneumatic, or a combination thereof for activating and interrupting extension and retraction of powered pool cover systems is a prescribed best pool safety practice that requires an observing human presence for manually initiating, and for controlling extension and retraction travel of a pool cover over a pool.

AMENDED SHEET - IPEAIUS

Claims (9)

1. Claims:
   I. A pool-deck lid lift system for below-deck troughs housing pool cover systems for pools, comprising in combination:
   
   (i) a front, longitudinal seating structure adapted to solidly seat for static support on top of a below-deck pool sidewall between the pool and the housing trough sandwiching traveling pool cover elements of the pool cover system that are extended and retracted back and forth across the pool;
   
   (ii) an upwardly movably, cantilever bracket structure secured along a longitudinal back wall of the housing trough having a plurality of extending support arms extending across the trough for supporting the longitudinal lid seating structure and removable, modular deck-lid top plates, and having a plurality of actuator arms extending vertically downward adjacent the back wall of the housing trough, all fastened to a common longitudinal actuator beam;
   
   (iii) hydraulic/pneumatic means mechanically coupled between the common longitudinal actuator beam of the cantilever bracket structure and a solid static inside surface of the housing trough for lifting the seated, longitudinal seating structure off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall, and allowing extension and retraction of the traveling pool cover elements back and forth across the pool; and (iv) a hydraulic/pneumatic actuation control means for powering the deck-lid system and the pool cover system housed in the below-deck housing trough, coupled for sequentially:
   
   a. lifting of the front, longitudinal seating structure statically seated solidly on the static below-deck beam-top structure of the pool sidewall, then b. energizing the pool cover system for extending and retracting the traveling pool cover elements back and forth across the pool; then c. stopping extension and retraction of the traveling pool cover elements between, and at extension and retraction end points, and d. allowing the front, poolside, longitudinal seating structure supported by the cantilever bracket structure of the deck-lid system to statically re-seat for support, solidly on top of the below-deck pool sidewall between the pool and housing trough after travel of the pool cover elements is stopped.
   
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2. 2. The pool-deck lid lift system of claim 1 wherein the cantilever bracket structure tilts upward, for lifting the front, longitudinal seating structure off of the top of the below-deck pool sidewall between the pool and the housing trough and includes:
   
   a) a plurality hinge pin assemblies 38 rigidly anchored to the back wall 32 of the housing trough it, b) an U-beam vertical actuator arm 34 pivotally coupled to the anchored hinge pin assemblies 38, c) an actuator box beam bolted at the distal or bottom ends 37 of the vertical actuators 34, d) an inverted flat L-beam 71 providing extending support arms 33 bolted at the top ends 39 of each vertical actuator arm 34, providing a structurally rigid, tiltable structure, that, in combination with the front longitudinal seating structure(s) 27 fastened, depending at ends 43 of support arms 33, provides rigid static support, when solidly seated for support on top of the below-deck pool sidewall bridging over the housing trough between the common below-deck end wall 24 and back wall 32 of the housing trough 11.
3. 3, The pool-deck lid lift system of claim 2 wlierein the front longitudinal seating structure(s) 27 fastened, depending at ends 43 of support arms 33 include:
   
   e) a plurality of longitudinally aligned hexahedral UHMW plastic planks 27i each conventionally secured underneath and between each pair of support arms 33 near the ends of the inverted L-beams 71 of the support arms 33, f) plurality of adjustment or shimming blocks 106 of UHMW plastic bridging over adjacent ends, and adjustably fastened to the underside of respective UHMW
   plastic planks 27i & 27ii secured to each inverted L-beam 71 at each end by allen head setting screws 107 countersunk through the L-beam 71 into underlying surfaces of the respective UHMW plastic planks 27i & 27ii received in threaded holes 108 drilled into the top surface 109 of the particular shimming block 106, and g) means for adjusting elevations and angular orientations of bottom planar surfaces 111 of the respective shimming blocks 106 relative to the top of a longitudinal seating block 93 on top of the pool end wall 24.
4. 4. The pool-deck lid lift system of claim 3 wherein the means for adjusting elevations and angular orientations of bottom planar surfaces 111 of the respective shimming blocks 106 comprises, in combination:
   
   h) two pairs of adjustment allen screws 112 similarly received in spaced apart threaded holes 108 drilled into, at each end of the particular adjustment block 106 extending up from the top surface 109, having flat, circular heads of a particular size;
   
   j) step holes 114 slepped in diameter drilled into bottom surfaces 114 through the overlying UHMW planlcs 27i & 27ii each having a larger diameter bottom section sized for receiving heads of the adjustment allen screws 112 and a smaller diameter top section sized for providing turning access to the top of the head of the adjustment allen screws 112 located for receiving the adjustment alien screws 112 extending up from the top surface 109 of the particular adjustment block 106, k) access ports 114 drilling through the overlying L-beam 71 sized smaller than the heads 112 of the adjustment alien screws 112 registering with the step holes stepped in diameter drilled into bottom surfaces 114 through the underlying UHMW planks 27i & 27ii , whereby the bottom surfaces bottom planar surfaces 111 of the respective shimming blocks 106 can be angularly oriented in space by turning each of the four adjustment alien screws 112 adjusting the elevation of each head 112 of the four the adjustment allen screws above the top surface of the shimming block, and the elevation of the bottom surfaces bottom planar surfaces 111 of the respective shimming blocks 106 can be adjusted relative to the top of the longitudinal seating block 93 on top of the pool end wall 24 by simultaneous turning of each pair of adjustment screws 112 at each end of the particular shimming block 106, and then m) seating and setting the angular orientations and elevations of the respective shimming blocks 106 b turning the alien head setting screws 107 countersunk through the L-beam 76 for seating and securing the heads of the adjustment alien screws 112 on annular steps of the step holes 114 drilled through the overlying UHMW planks 27i & 27ii defined at the juncture of the larger sizes and smaller size sections of the stepped holes.
5. 5. The pool-deck lid lift system of claim I wherein the hydraulic/pneumatic actuation control means for powering the deck-lid system and the pool cover system housed in the below-deck housing trough includes:
   
   (i) dual reversible hydraulic motors l2m and 13m and an anti-cavitation manifold 121 coupled for alternatively rotating a cover drum and cable reels for extending and retracting traveling pool cover elements of the pool cover system and hydraulic actuator cylinders 81 mechanically coupled for tilting/lifting the pool-deck lid 28 covering the housing trough 11, all housed in the housing trough, (ii) a hydraulic power source (a pump) 122 remotely located at a power pack location, (iii) a fluid reservoir 123 remotely located at the power pack location, (iv) a directional control valve 124 located at the power pack location, (v) two pressure sequencing valves 126 and 127 located in the housing trough 11 hydraulically closed at pressures below a pre-determined threshold pressure P T and hydraulically open at a pressures above the threshold pressure P T, (vi) a normally off, momentary electrical control 132 located at a control station, (vii) hydraulic lines 129, and 130, respectively connecting between the motors 12m, and 13m, respectively though the pressure sequencing valves 126 and 127 to the hydraulic power source 122 powering rotation of the cover drum 12 and cable reel(s) and extension of hydraulic actuator cylinder pistons for tilting/lifting the pool-deck lid 28, (viii) a shuttle valve 136 having an open port, located in the housing trough for alternatively, hydraulically linking either hydraulic line 129 or hydraulic line 130 to its open port serially connected between the remote hydraulic power source and the pressure sequencing valves 126 and 127, and (ix) a hydraulic line 131connecting between the open port of the shuttle valve 136 and the hydraulic actuator cylinders 81 for tilting the pool-deck lid 28 up at a hydraulic pressure less than the threshold pressure P T.
6. 6. The pool deck lift system of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic/pneumatic means comprises at least one single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder mechanically coupled between the common longitudinal actuator beam of the cantilever bracket structure and a solid static inside surface of the housing trough for raising the statically seated, longitudinal seating structure off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall having a piston head located for engaging an opposing planer face of the of the longitudinal actuator beam of the upwardly movably, cantilever bracket structure for raising, the seated, longitudinal seating structure slightly up off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall at full extension of each piston at a pressure P1; and further including means for adjusting elevation the longitudinal seating structure is raised up off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall upon full extension of each piston head of the single action, short thrust hydraulic cylinder(s);
   
   wlierein the hydraulic/pneumatic actuation control means for powering the deck lid system and the pool cover system comprises in combination therewith:
   
   (i) reversible hydraulic motors means located in the housing trough coupled for rotating a cover drum and cable reels for extending and retracting the traveling pool cover elements back and forth across the pool;
   
   (ii) a liquid reservoir remotely located at a power pack location;
   
   (iii) an electric hydraulic pump remotely located at a power pack location for pumping output hydraulic liquid from the reservoir at a pressure greater than P 2 where P2 is greater than P1;
   
   (iv) a normally neutral, directional control valve hydraulically located at the power pack location, downstream from the hydraulic pump that drains to reservoir at a neutral position and directs pressurized hydraulic liquid to the single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder(s) and the reversible hydraulic motors means at a retraction position and an extension position;
   
   (v) a normally off, momentary, manual control switch remotely located at a control station for simultaneously turning on the hydraulic pump and switching the directional control valve from the neutral position, alternatively either to the retraction position or to the extension position;
   
   (vi) pressure sequencing valves V1 m and V2 m in the housing trough hydraulically coupling between the directional control valve and the reversible hydraulic motors for directing output hydraulic liquid at a pressure P2 to the reversible motors means for powering rotation of the cover drum at the retraction position for retracting the traveling pool cover elements from across uncovering the pool, and for powering rotation of the cable reel(s) at the extension position for extending the traveling pool cover elements across covering the pool;
   
   (vii) a shuttle valve having an open port, located in the housing trough for hydraulically directing pressurized hydraulic output from the electric hydraulic pump alternatively directed to the pressure sequencing valves V1 m and the pressure sequencing V2 m by the normally neutral, directional control valve at the retraction position and the extension position;
   
   (viii) a hydraulic line hydraulically coupling between the open port of the shuttle valve and the hydraulic actuator cylinder(s) for tilting/lifting the pool-deck lid ;
   
   whereby, upon switching on the hydraulic pump, and switching the directional control valve from the normally neutral position either to the retraction position or the extension position, using the momentary, normally off, manual, control switch, the hydraulic pump supplies hydraulic liquid at a pressure up to P1 solely to the single action, short thrust hydraulic cylinder(s) raising the seated, longitudinal seating structure up, off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall between the pool and the housing trough; and, upon each piston head reaching full extension at the pressure P1, hydraulic liquid pressure output supplied by the hydraulic pump increases to P2 whereupon either pressure sequencing valve V1 m or pressure sequencing V2 m directs hydraulic liquid to the reversible hydraulic motors means located in the housing trough couple for rotating the cover drum or cable reels for extending or retracting the traveling pool cover elements from or across the pool, and upon releasing (lie momentary, normally off, manual, control switching off the hydraulic pump, returning the normally neutral, directional control valve to the neutral position draining to reservoir allowing hydraulic liquid in the single action, short thrust hydraulic cylinder(s) to drain to reservoir responsive to gravitational force whereupon the raised the front longitudinal lid seating structure supported by the cantilever bracket structure descends and statically resents solidly, on the top of the below-deck pool sidewall between the pool and the housing trough.
7. 7. The pool deck lift system of claim 6 wherein the means for adjusting elevation the longitudinal seating structure is raised up off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall upon full extension of each piston head of the single action, short thrust hydraulic cylinder(s) comprises in combination;
   
   (ix) a threaded adjustment rod with a head axially aligned with each piston head of the single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder(s) helically screwing into and out of a threaded port through an opposing planer face of the longitudinal actuator beam, and (x) a lock nut screwing on each adjustment rod for locking the position of the head of each adjustment rod relative to each piston head of the single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder(s) for setting a particular elevation the longitudinal seating structure is lifted up off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall upon full extension of each piston in the single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder(s)
8. 8. The pool deck lift system of claim 6 wherein the means for adjusting elevation the longitudinal seating structure is lifted up off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall upon full extension of each piston head of the single action, short thrust hydraulic cylinder(s) comprises in combination;
   
   (x) a threaded adjustment rod with a head axially coaxially screwing into and out of the piston head of the single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder(s), and (ix) a lock nut screwing on each adjustment rod for locking a position of the head of each adjustment rod relative to the opposing planer face of the actuator beam of the upwardly movably, cantilever bracket structure for setting a particular elevation the longitudinal seating structure is raised up off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall upon full extension of each piston in the single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder(s).
9. 9. The pool deck lift system of claim 6 wherein the removable, modular deck-lid top plates have a particular thickness, and the elevation the longitudinal seating structure is raised up off the top of the below-deck pool sidewall upon full extension of each piston head of the single action, short thrust hydraulic cylinder(s) is less than the thickness of the deck-lid top plates such that bottom surfaces of the modular deck-lid top plates always remain below top surfaces of a pool deck surface surrounding the below deck trough housing upon full extension of each piston of the single action, short thrust, hydraulic cylinder(s).